Read to learn, read to yearn

A simple book helps lift Adams' Maria Catanzarite into the state finals.

A simple book helps lift Adams' Maria Catanzarite into the state finals.

June 01, 2007|TIM CREASON Tribune Correspondent

Reaching the state finals in any sport requires a fit mind as well as a fit body. Maria Catanzarite had no problem with the physical part. It's the mental aspect that held back the talented Adams sophomore early this girls track season. "I had self-confidence problems," she says, quietly. "Cross country didn't go the way I was hoping last fall. When track started, I wasn't very sure of myself." Throughout the season, Catanzarite's races were respectable, but nothing to get excited about. At the Northern Indiana Conference meet a few weeks ago, she was a distant fourth in the 800-meter run, eight seconds behind winner Mary Cate Quiett of Marian. At the sectional, she barely qualified for the Bremen regional, snatching the fourth and final qualifying spot. Then she read the book. "It's called 'The New Toughness Training for Sports,'" reports Adams assistant coach Jay Lauer. "Joe Kizinski, the father of (Elkhart Central sprinter) Jami Kizinski, suggested this book at the NIC meet for any athletes who were having confidence issues. I bought the book and gave it to Maria to read before the regional," Lauer said. Catanzarite took author James Loehr's words to heart ... in a way that nobody could have imagined. "That book helped me a lot," Catanzarite said. "I just needed to stop worrying so much and run. It opened my eyes." So there, a week after she had squeaked into the field, was Catanzarite, chasing Quiett to the finish line in a race for the regional 800-meter championship. In what may have been the most unheralded story of the Bremen regional, Catanzarite finished second, dropping over five seconds off her previous best time. Not only did she qualify for Saturday's girls state championships, but her time, 2:18.16, was so quick that she is seeded into the "fast" heat of the state 800. At approximately 7:45 p.m., Catanzarite will go to the starting line of the Indiana University track in Bloomington as the No. 6 seed. Her starting spot is right next to Quiett. In the space of a week, the girl with confidence issues, the one who finished fourth in the NIC meet, has become a legitimate state medal contender. "I just wanted to get there (to state)," said Catanzarite after her regional race. "I really haven't thought about anything else." Reading a book paid off for Catanzarite far more than playing a video game would have, that's for sure. Amazing rematches Area athletes will be involved in some highly-anticipated rematches at Saturday's state meet, which starts with field events at 3 p.m. and running events at 4:15. And none are more anticipated than the 1600- and 3200-meter runs, where Culver Girls Academy junior Alex Banfich seeks to become a double gold medal-winner. The 1600 field includes defending champion Lauren Hardesty of Valparaiso, who came from far behind to nip Banfich at the finish line a year ago. In the 3200, Banfich is defending champ. But Carroll (Fort Wayne's) Chelsea Blanchard, who had the state's best time in the 1600 this season, actually scratched out of that event so that she could be fresh and rested for a 3200-meter showdown. Blanchard finished fourth a year ago. In the 800, Marian's Quiett, the defending state runner-up, will have a rematch with defending champ Katherine Klump of South Dearborn. And in the high jump, Penn's Ali Beaudway, who finished fourth last season,gets another shot at defending champ Emily Breslin of Indianapolis Cathedral. Beaudway will be lifted by the presence of teammate Kait Hendershot, a surprise state qualifier who cleared 5-4 1/4 at the Bremen regional. Only two schools -- Penn and Franklin Central -- can claim two state high jump qualifiers. Best events for locals In the 300-meter hurdles, Riley senior Margaret Harris is the No. 1 seed and Elkhart Central's Tiffany Aikin is No. 2. The two long-time NIC opponents will end their high school careers in a battle for the state championship. Three local 4 x 800 relay squads -- Marian, Penn and Northridge -- are seeded into the "fast" heat at state. But where local athletes are concerned, it's hard to beat the high jump, where seven competitors -- Beaudway, Hendershot, Marian's Julie Seevers, LaPorte's Kim Lienhoop, Westview's Tiffany Fisher, Jimtown's Melissa Goward and Elkhart Memorial's Jennifer Krumwede -- are from the Tribune area. That's almost one-quarter of the field.